By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
The Nigerian Law Society (NLS), an independent body of lawyers, has criticised the objection raised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) against its conferment of the Blue Silk rank on deserving legal practitioners in the country.
In a statement on Friday, the group, alongside its affiliate, the Body of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (BOSCON), insisted that it has the autonomy to confer the rank on willing and worthy legal practitioners.
The NBA and the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) had earlier dismissed the introduction and use of the ‘Blue Silk’ title as an alternative to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
The LPPC, at the end of a meeting held on February 12, had vowed to take appropriate steps in line with its statutory mandate to preserve the sanctity of the rank of SAN, which it said remained the highest mark of professional distinction for lawyers in the country.
